The title of this article was written at 2100hrs. Time now is 2200hrs. Yes. It has taken me that long to pen down what the opening of this inaugural Mileage blog entry should be.
I figured I can do without the history lessons on how Mileage was born. After all, factual writing has never been my forte.
I figured I can do without the history lessons on how Mileage was born. After all, factual writing has never been my forte.
Thereafter, I thought I can inject some humor and creativity on this page but I remember a hard lesson learnt just slightly more than a year ago where my sense of originality (or so I thought) was grossly overruled by peers; I wanted to call my maiden coaching school “MAUleage”.
Point taken, right?
Thus, I reckon I shall just pen down my heartfelt feelings.
I liken the past 365 days serving Mileage to that of the timeless quote “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get”. I’ll elaborate on why it is so.
At almost every training session, there will be situations for me to handle. My runners complaining of aches and pains, Michelle disagreeing vehemently if I change my training plan for her last minute, Chantelle insisting on joining many races, Evelyn refusing to eat proper meals before training, just to name a few. But there is one "flavour of chocolate" I know pretty certainly I'll be getting- the Hungary imported "sore muscle" flavour made famous by Mr Gabor.
But like a kid hankering greedily after sweets (just like Antony and his almost daily triple thick milkshakes), I savour all flavours of chocolates. Chocolate triggers the release of endorphins that makes one happy and that is how I always feel (well, at least most times) after each session with the Mileage runners, on and off the track and trails.
What about those times that fall outside the “most times”? Those are the times when I did question myself if I’ve made a prudent decision in setting up this adult training program. As a coach, the most gratifying and satisfying element is witnessing the commitment, determination and focus in your athletes being translated to steady progress in their fitness and overall condition. However, this “phenomena” is sometimes hard to witness among my Mileage athletes especially when:
1. They are too busy with other commitments outside Mileage (sometimes so busy that i have no inkling of whether they will turn up for training.)
2. They have a mindset of their own which makes convincing them why they should or should not do a certain workout challenging.
Thus, there came a point where I was at a total loss of how to devise a training program best suited to their busy schedules. Other than at a loss, frustration was another emotion that accompanied.
“Look on the positive side” I’d tell myself. There has to be a lesson I can learn from these episodes to make myself a better coach. I look at my own coach (whom I have deep respect for) and ask myself how I can emulate him. I read up on legendary coaches’ biography for inspiration, amongst the many running articles.
Mileage turns 1 today. It is still at its infancy and I hope that it will gradually grow stronger in its identity. A big thank you to all my Mileage athletes who have helped lived my passion in coaching.
To more anniversaries, intervals, long runs and good races!
Point taken, right?
Thus, I reckon I shall just pen down my heartfelt feelings.
I liken the past 365 days serving Mileage to that of the timeless quote “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get”. I’ll elaborate on why it is so.
At almost every training session, there will be situations for me to handle. My runners complaining of aches and pains, Michelle disagreeing vehemently if I change my training plan for her last minute, Chantelle insisting on joining many races, Evelyn refusing to eat proper meals before training, just to name a few. But there is one "flavour of chocolate" I know pretty certainly I'll be getting- the Hungary imported "sore muscle" flavour made famous by Mr Gabor.
But like a kid hankering greedily after sweets (just like Antony and his almost daily triple thick milkshakes), I savour all flavours of chocolates. Chocolate triggers the release of endorphins that makes one happy and that is how I always feel (well, at least most times) after each session with the Mileage runners, on and off the track and trails.
What about those times that fall outside the “most times”? Those are the times when I did question myself if I’ve made a prudent decision in setting up this adult training program. As a coach, the most gratifying and satisfying element is witnessing the commitment, determination and focus in your athletes being translated to steady progress in their fitness and overall condition. However, this “phenomena” is sometimes hard to witness among my Mileage athletes especially when:
1. They are too busy with other commitments outside Mileage (sometimes so busy that i have no inkling of whether they will turn up for training.)
2. They have a mindset of their own which makes convincing them why they should or should not do a certain workout challenging.
Thus, there came a point where I was at a total loss of how to devise a training program best suited to their busy schedules. Other than at a loss, frustration was another emotion that accompanied.
“Look on the positive side” I’d tell myself. There has to be a lesson I can learn from these episodes to make myself a better coach. I look at my own coach (whom I have deep respect for) and ask myself how I can emulate him. I read up on legendary coaches’ biography for inspiration, amongst the many running articles.
Mileage turns 1 today. It is still at its infancy and I hope that it will gradually grow stronger in its identity. A big thank you to all my Mileage athletes who have helped lived my passion in coaching.
To more anniversaries, intervals, long runs and good races!
Antony, Gold Coast Airport Marathon 3:50:50 (Personal Best)
Michelle, Gold Coast Airport Marathon 3:56:33 (Personal Best)
Jan. Gold Coast Airport Marathon 3:56:50 (Personal Best)
Chantelle, Gold Coast Airport Marathon 3:59:44 (Personal Best) 
Evelyn, Gold Coast Airport Marathon 10km 58:45 (Season Best)
Mileage's 5000m Challenge Winner - Chantelle! 
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